The father of highly regarded high school point guard Abdul Gaddy Jr. said his son could decide between UCLA and Washington within a week, and added the family learned Arizona coach Lute Olson was retiring from a UCLA assistant the night before the story broke.

Gaddy, a 6-foot-3 senior at Bellarmine Prep of Tacoma (Wash.), twice committed to Arizona, and de-committed for a second time when Olson announced his retirement last week. A few weeks ago Gaddy pared his college choices to UCLA and Arizona, but Abdul Sr. said what transpired with Olson made the family re-evaluate Washington.

“How (Washington) got back involved was after the Arizona situation, I think (Abdul Jr.) thought, ‘You know what, maybe this is a sign to stay close to home?’ ” Abdul Sr. said. “He works out with some of the players at Washington, including Isaiah Thomas, one of the freshman that came in this year. And the location being 40 minutes from our home plays into it.”

Abdul Sr. said he believes his son wants to sign with a school during the early period, which begins Nov. 12. He added the decision to de-commit stems from the uncertainty enveloping Arizona’s program.

“My wife actually found out (about Olson retiring) through their staff, when UCLA (assistant) coach (Scott) Duncan said something, and from there everything transpired,” Abdul Sr. said. “We initially did find it out through UCLA.”

Asked if it was before the story of Olson’s retiring became public, Abdul Sr. said, “that is correct.”If Bruins coach Ben Howland lands Gaddy, it will be the second high-profile prep player in five months to back out of a commitment at another school to attend UCLA. Freshman center J’mison Morgan originally signed with LSU, but was granted a release from his letter of intent when the Tigers made a coaching change.

“(A decision) could happen within a week, and it could happen within a month,” Abdul Sr. said. “I’m not quite sure when exactly it will happen. It’s possible this week.”